InDesign

What’s changed? New software plug-in aids publishing work and Hesperian’s updates

May 03, 2011 - Usually when a publisher reprints a book, they just send an order to the printing plant that they need another several thousand books, and the printer simply reuses the same files (or plates) to produce the additional copies. But not Hesperian.

Since thousands of people in over 200 countries rely on Where There Is No Doctor and other Hesperian publications to diagnose, treat, and prevent common illnesses, it is crucial to keep the information in our materials as up-to-date as possible. Every printing reflects evolving medical knowledge, changes in availability and effectiveness of medicines, World Health Organization recommendations, and more. Dozens of changes are made with every printing, and now, also between “printings” on the internet.

While researching and implementing those changes is a lot of work, the challenge becomes even greater when you consider the need to communicate these medical changes to the thousands of users of the books and the partner organizations that translate, publish, and distribute them in 88 languages – organizations that also need to keep their editions up-to-date.

Like many publishers, Hesperian uses Adobe InDesign to create our books, but the program has no useful way to track and record changes. For years, we have tried to work around this shortcoming, manually marking up changed pages to photocopy or PDF and share with translation partners and others – a time consuming process with less than optimal results.

At last an efficient technological solution has appeared – from a small company called CtrlPublishing based in Sweden. CtrlPublishing has developed a “plug-in” (add-on) for Adobe InDesign and InCopy that allows for tracking of changes from multiple editors and designers. The plug-in, called CtrlChanges, clearly tracks and marks additions and deletions to text, is user-friendly and intuitive, and enables the creation of annotated PDFs with complete records of changes. This will enable our colleagues in Cambodia, for instance, to easily see what was added and deleted in our new edition so they can evaluate whether they want to translate and incorporate those same changes into their new Khmer printing.

We visited CtrlPublishing’s website and tested a free trial of the plug-in, then wrote to the company to learn more. We were incredibly grateful when CtrlPublishing offered to donate the software to our always financially struggling non-profit!

We have now been experimenting with and using the CtrlChanges Pro plug-in for 4 months, while updating materials on midwifery, community dentistry, and environmental health. During this short time, we have been able to simplify and streamline our internal editorial processes and improve our ability to communicate critical medical updates to partners.

This summer, Hesperian’s flagship resource, Where There Is No Doctor, will be updated for the 26th time since its original publication in Spanish in the 1970s. HIV treatment recommendations, medicines for tuberculosis, and many other topics will be reviewed by Hesperian staff and trusted medical advisors working all over the world. But this time, we know that the process will be smoother and we will be able to share these lifesaving updates more quickly and efficiently in 88 languages with the people who need them most.

Ringier is the largest internationally operating Swiss media company, producing more than 120 newspapers and magazines worldwide as well as running printing plants, several radio and TV stations and over 80 web and mobile platforms.

Ringier is the largest internationally operating Swiss media company, producing more than 120 newspapers and magazines worldwide as well as running printing plants, several radio and TV stations and over 80 web and mobile platforms.

In 1996, Ringier installed axaio MadeToPrint – at that time for Quark Publishing System. Since then, the software has been used first and foremost to create fully automated print data. This primarily consists of high resolution PDFs following the PDF/X-3 standard, but also includes lower resolution PDFs and thumbnails for downstream systems.

“Back then, we implemented MadeToPrint so that we could standardize and automate our print output,” explains Martin Werren, Head of Business Solutions IT for the Publishing and Content Management Technologies department at Ringier AG. “Standardization is really important to us. MadeToPrint supports all of the required ISO standards for PDF output and helps us avoid mistakes. It relieves our layout artists from repetitive tasks and lets them focus on their real job: design.”

By using MadeToPrint, Ringier saves 60 to 90 minutes of valuable working time per day. The software is very robust and reliable and its performance with the appropriate hardware is outstanding.

And now with a server — for even higher productivity

axaio MadeToPrint is available in three different versions: MadeToPrint Standard (€349) is an InDesign plugin that allows you to optimize and safeguard the output of individual files in PDF format or other file formats. Using predefined JobSets, you can achieve identical output results on every workstation with a click of the mouse, thus ensuring a higher level of efficiency and fewer mistakes. MadeToPrint Auto (from € 2,490), is a plugin that enables a standardized, automated output from InDesign. MadeToPrint Server (from € 5,490) is based on processing with Adobe InDesign Server (included in the package). With the server version, output processes are fully automated around the clock to process high document volumes faster and more securely and meet the highest demands in publishing and printing environments.

For many years, Ringier optimized its output workflow with the MadeToPrint Auto version, operating on seven computers. Due to its scalability and speed, the decision was made to upgrade to the server version of MadeToPrint recently. “The increase in productivity in comparison to MadeToPrint Auto is roughly 30 minutes per day for each publication,” reports the IT chief. “Another motivation for the upgrade to the server version was the consolidation of the infrastructure, meaning less time and effort required for support in the IT department.”

In the meantime all titles (“SI Style”, the “Glückspost”, “Landliebe”, “Schweizer Illustrierte” and the integrated newsroom of the “Blick Gruppe”) are produced with the server version of MadeToPrint.

Integration and support — simply top class

“The integration into our existing Woodwing editorial workflow was completely smooth and easy,” beams Martin Werren. “To help us get started with MadeToPrint, our system integrator provided support for our colleagues for a single day. Everything else could be set up gradually with internal resources. In combination with Woodwing Enterprise, nothing else on the market comes close. MadeToPrint is really efficient, flexible, and it meets all our requirements. Plus, we can count on very good 2nd level support from our integrator A&F and excellent support from axaio."

Up to date

With the massive changes in the publishing and media world, customer needs have of course also changed over the years. And Ringier has felt the shift from analog to digital media. Whereas before there was only “print”, now web, smart phones and tablets have been added to the mix. Ringier provides its services via all of these channels, keeping all of its people and lifestyle customers happy in the process.

By acquiring other companies and making various investments, Ringier has been able to extend its field of expertise. In addition to publishing, Ringier AG has also established itself in the digital sector: internet-based and mobile e-commerce services such as shopping portals or Groupon services, and classified ad services such as car, furniture and job platforms. And that’s before we get to the entertainment sector, covering everything from TV, radio, events and entertainment services (ticketing, etc.).

Mr Werren provides a summary: “MadeToPrint Server is by far the most effective tool for generating highly automated ISO standardized output files from an editorial system. We’re delighted with the product, and we’d take that step again anytime.”

About Ringier

Ringier is the largest internationally operating Swiss media company, producing more than 120 newspapers and magazines worldwide as well as running printing plants, several radio and TV stations, and over 80 web and mobile platforms. Situated in the heart of Zurich, the Pressehaus has served as the headquarters of Ringier AG since 1978. Over 1000 employees visit this location every day. Together with its branches in Germany, Hungary, China,Vietnam, Romania and Africa, the company is comprised of roughly 8000 employees. With its 180-year history, Ringier stands for a pioneering spirit and individuality as well as independence, freedom of expression and diversity of information. The company’s hallmarks are excellence in products, journalistic quality and first-class entertainment. Founded in Switzerland in 1833, Ringier has been family run for five generations.

About axaio software

axaio software streamlines PDF creation, printing and content correction workflows for Adobe InDesign, InCopy, Illustrator and QuarkXPress environments. Its flagship product, MadeToPrint, vastly enhances the reliability of PDF creation, print output processes as well as export to other file formats. It offers three levels of automation from semi-automatic over hotfolder processing to true-lights out server processing with MadeToPrint Server.

axaio products seamlessly integrate into editorial environments based on vjoon K4, WoodWing Enterprise 7, Van Gennep PlanSystem4 or Quark Publishing System. axaio solutions are being used by publishing houses, advertisement agencies, prepress and packaging companies all over the world. axaio software actively supports the international PDF standards and is member of the PDF Association.

More information on the axaio website: http://www.axaio.com.